Statistics on homicide are vitally important as they aid investigations into hard-to-solve and unsolved murders. Given the characteristics of the victim and the offence, the statistics can help police narrow down a suspect group in the hunt for a murderer.

The Home Office figures tell us that last year 619 deaths were recorded as homicide in England and Wales.

As Simon Rogers previously posted the mortality statistics, we can see that 318 deaths were caused by assault. That accounts for about half of murders in 2009.

Now what extra detail does the homicide report show?

Two-thirds of homicide victims (68%) were male.

Female victims were more likely to be killed by someone they knew. Around three-quarters of female victims knew the main suspect, compared with half (50%) of male victims.

Just over half of female victims aged 16 or over had been killed by their partner, ex-partner or lover (54%, 94 offences)

The most common method of killing for both male and females continues to be by sharp instrument. In 2009/10, as in each of the last eight years, male and female victims were both more likely to be killed by a sharp instrument than any other method.

The second most common method for male murders involves hitting or kicking (113 homicides, or 27%)

The second most common method for females murder was strangulation or asphyxiation (41 homicides, or 21%).

There were 41 shooting homicide victims in 2009/10.

In terms of reoffender rates, two homicide offences recorded in 2009/10 were committed by a suspect who had been convicted of a homicide on a previous occasion.

Below is more detailed regional breakdown of murders by police force area.